Getting into macro

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Philip
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I want to get into macro but I am confused as which equipment to opt for. I would use it for close up of flowers, insects etc

I currently have a 7D with 24-105, 200 and nifty fifty to use.

Should I go for extension tubes or a purpose lens?

If lens which one 60mm, 65mm, 100mm or 180mm as listed by Canon?

Any advice appreciated.
 
I've wanted to get into macro a few times now and bought lenses to give it a go. When I found that it took more effort than I was prepared to give, I sold the lens. I'm now on my fifth macro lens and actually trying to put in a bit of effort. This leads to my suggestion: why not try one of the close-up adaptors in the first instance, to see if you really, really like working for a macro shot or if it's too much trouble?

Re: the lens, it depends on how much you want to spend. The Canon 100 macro is rather nice and should be available second-hand quite widely. The 180 macro is big and heavy and gets the subject no bigger in the frame. It gives more working distance and bokeh that is said to be 'better' by many.

Lighting is another issue. A flash of some sort is worth while. If you've got, for instance, a 430 or 550, it can be used mounted on the camera with some home-made diffusion.
 
You can get a cheep set of extension tubes that will work perfectly with your nifty 50 for about 6 quid from Amazon. They will not give you automatic control so everything has to be set manually but thats probably for the best anyhow. Coupled with an off camera flash on a sync cord is plenty to get you started and see if you like it. I use this set up with great results and even sold several macro shots taken using this.
 
Cheap tubes are a pain to use - you just wont bother , you cant control aperture from the body, so all your shots will be at the lens's fastest aperture so you will have NO DOF. auto tubes are good on a 50mm but can be difficult to get used to if you've not done any macro as the working distance (distance from end of the lens to subject) is very very small. You can pickup a used Canon 100mm macro on here for around £340 which will give you a good working distance and excellent IQ and is much easier to use than tubes / diopters etc- if you don't like it you could re-sell the lens without losing much money (if any).
 
I picked up a 100 2.8 Macro from MPB a while ago for not a lot....has ended up being my most used lens! Lovely portait lens as well as great macro, and pin-sharp. You wouldn't be disappointed.
 
I've got the 100mm macro (IS version) and think it's a great lens. I use it much more widely than just macro, I love not having to worry about MFD and use it for frame filling shots of my baby daughter, etc. I had (still have) extension tubes previously and tried a reversing lens and found them such a ball ache solution that it put me off doing very much true macro. I wouldn't say I'm doing heaps of 1:1 but I love having it in my armory and having the ability to shoot anything from 30cm to infinity! :thumbs:

Unfortunately my 135mm is seeing a lot less action as a result (I'm so bloomin lazy)... :(
 
Dogfish_magnet said:
Cheap tubes are a pain to use - you just wont bother , you cant control aperture from the body, so all your shots will be at the lens's fastest aperture so you will have NO DOF. auto tubes are good on a 50mm but can be difficult to get used to if you've not done any macro as the working distance (distance from end of the lens to subject) is very very small. You can pickup a used Canon 100mm macro on here for around £340 which will give you a good working distance and excellent IQ and is much easier to use than tubes / diopters etc- if you don't like it you could re-sell the lens without losing much money (if any).
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Yes they are a bit more difficult to use but for the price its still a very easy and cheap way into macro. The DoF can be set on the lens before attaching the tubes so you can vary it. You can also use a longer lens to increase the working distance a 70-300mm gives a very useful distance for insect without spooking them.
I have used dedicated macro lenses and would buy one if I did more macro photos but only because they are easier to use but don't necessarily give any better results.
 
Tom Harper said:
Yes they are a bit more difficult to use but for the price its still a very easy and cheap way into macro. The DoF can be set on the lens before attaching the tubes so you can vary it. You can also use a longer lens to increase the working distance a 70-300mm gives a very useful distance for insect without spooking them.
I have used dedicated macro lenses and would buy one if I did more macro photos but only because they are easier to use but don't necessarily give any better results.
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The problem with setting the aperture prior to taking the shot is that you loose to much light and it becomes very difficult to see to focus. Auto tubes are very good but the manual ones are carp and a true macro lens will allow you to produce consistently good results rather than the odd fluky one.
 
Most dedicated macro lenses double up as very good portrait/street lenses.

I had a tamron SP90 DI, and to be honest it was hardly off my camera, I found myself using it for way more than just macro shot
At F2.8 its just fast enough to get that lovely "Bokeh", fairly light considering the competition and a dream to use.
Very easy to manual focus as well.
 
Philip, you won't be disappointed by your choice, works well with the 7D especially using the inbuilt wireless trigger to fire an external flashgun. Also as pointed out if it's not for you you can pretty much sell the lens for what you paid for it, or even turn a profit :)
 
with tubes you get prime lens results...but may need to use manual settings for exposure and focus of course...
tubes arent adjustable so you have to move the camera back and forth to get into the zone of focus..or change/add/subtract a tube

get a 3 tube set if you can...simpler the better...they arent optical and just need to have a precision coupling mechanism to hold the lens in the correct axis

you can reverse a prime lens with macro possibilities but you may get your rear...now front ..element exposed to the ....erm..elements as it were

good luck..

i have macro settings on my boy racer so i havent too much of a problem down to 1:1
 
Flamez said:
. I would use it for close up of flowers, insects etc
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There is more in that than meets the eye.

Generally speaking flowers stay put. This means that a short macro or standard lens with tubes could work fine, or a long focus lens on a tripod because you can take your time.

However...

If you're after insects then trust me you have to be mobile and quick. Forget tripods or fancy lighting set ups.

Anything bigger than 100mm is heavy and difficult to hold steady enough for macro shots with good IQ, unless you have arms like King Kong. To overcome this you will need very good natural light, even with a fast lens, or artificial light. This will mean a good flash, possibly a ringflsh ideally a twin light, but you're talking big bucks here.

yes you can reverse lenses but then you have issues with lens to camera communication. There are ways round this but then gradually the bill adds up.

As far as advice goes I would say get a 100mm macro lens. say a sigma 105. See how you get on with it and if you really like it trade up to something better.

The 180mm canon is a beast, but if you've got the money and are happy to spend it, buy the Canon 100mm macro with IS it is astounding. I am still trying to take pictures that are worthy of it.
 
Greywolf said:
There is more in that than meets the eye....snip...

Generally speaking flowers stay put.
Click to expand...

:p not if its windy...one needs some gardening ties or green plastic wire...sort of batten them down

this is one of the drawbacks of tripods...they only keep the camera steady

as for the insects etc...i never got one ever which wasnt nearly dead or comatose...butterflies high on sucking etc
 
Definately get the 100mm Macro 2.8. Amazing! Also-get an extension tube if you'd like macro's of insects etc.
Once you get the hang of using this equipment, you'll feel great, and they're fun to use!
 
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